Bruins Daily P-Bruins Player of the Week 12/24/12-12/31/12

Svedberg continues to shine for the Providence Bruins keeping them within striking distance of the Atlantic Division lead. (Photo by Joe Makarski/Bruins Daily)

Opening night seemed like a long time ago when Michael Hutchinson got the nod in net for the Providence Bruins. Niklas Svedberg has started 19 games (seven more than Hutchinson) and has been nothing short of spectacular. Svedberg posts a 12-5-1 record. His goals against average stands at 2.50. He sports a save percentage at .919.

Sveddie leads all rookie goalies in the AHL in wins (12) and notched another one in the Baby B’s 4-2 victory over the Adirondack Phantoms. Sveddie posted 43 saves versus the Phantoms and is on his way to a breakout campaign for the Baby B’s.

The Baby B’s sit at 16-11-0-2. They remain four points out of the Atlantic Division lead behind the Portland Pirates. The team has been playing great hockey over the past two months and it is no surprise that it has been because of the emergence of Svedberg and the defensive strategy.

Sveddie is planning to make his way into the NHL in the next couple of years.

“This is what I want to do,” Svedberg said. “I want to play in the NHL. I think the best way for me is to come here, play in the American League and work my way up.”

Head Coach Bruce Cassidy was not sure what Sveddie could bring to the table, but he has answered all the calls between the pipes.

“We weren’t sure what we were going to get out of him,” Cassidy said. “He’s the type of guy that when the puck drops, the intangibles he brings are better than what you see in practice. He’s a guy who competes hard in net. It shows. His numbers are pretty good.”

With Tim Thomas out of the picture and Tuukka Rask the “man” in Boston, don’t be surprised if Svedberg is up in the NHL sooner rather than later. This kid can really play.

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